Mullin Seeks State Control of Lake Shorelines

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin is pushing for more state control over federally regulated lake shorelines.

The freshman Republican from Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District announced Tuesday he is a co-sponsor of a bill called the Leave Our Lakes Alone Act by Missouri Republican Rep. Vicky Hartzler.

Mullin says the bill would transfer control of lake shorelines currently handled by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to individual states.

Mullin contends FERC is regulating lakes "well beyond what the original federal laws and statutes gave them authority to do." FERC would still be allowed to control matters related to power regulation.

Mullin says the bill would open the door to more economic opportunities for people who live along the Grand Lake Watershed in northeastern Oklahoma.